Disciples, Apostles, and Saints!
I’ve taken to appreciating the word repent. Primarily because it is a word Jesus uses. A lot. And it’s a word he associates with his mission — a mission that grew out of John the Baptizer’s mission.
Many of us have bad associations with the word. And the conviction. Perhaps even the very idea of being told by another human person that we need to repent. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth, we might say. It doesn’t ring true. Or somehow fit how we see things. Insert other cliches here.
Chief among our cliches, I suspect, is the notion that we hate change. And it would be hard to repent of sin if we aren’t also talking about changing our ways — it is precisely what we’re dealing with.
This is more excuse than truth. There is comfort in stasis — and in addiction. A refusal to change is not a sign of virtue. I might go so far as to say our stubbornness and whitewashing of bad behavior under the auspices of how hard change is or how we shouldn’t have to change because nobody likes it has the spiritual authority of a toddler refusing their peas. It is not rational, supportive, or honest. It’s just willful and defiant.
To repent simply means “to turn”. And when Jesus invites us to turn, he’s setting us on a new path to follow. One that will make us all and each healthier. Now and in the many days to come.
With love,
Drew+